His Gift To Kids: Musical Mondays

Jim Craig has always wanted to do things his way -- even as a little boy, when he learned to play more musical instruments than most people would attempt in a lifetime.

"I wanted to be real independent real early," says Craig. "I wasn't really good at discipline until my late teens."

It's worked out well for the Allentown resident, now a professional musician who teaches privately and at Community Music School. Craig plays keyboard with the trio reQUEST and has performed at places like Mayfair, the 5th Street Creativity Festivals and, one Fourth of July, at J. Birney Crum Stadium.

In 1982, he wrote the music for the Pennsylvania Stage Company production of "Memorial to the Honored Dead."

Along the way, Craig came to realize that being on the road as a professional musician was not compatible with family life, so he built a musical career around teaching and performing locally.

"In my teens, I thought it would be great to be a star. Having children, as it does to a lot of people, changed my goals in that direction. Ever since I had my first son, i wanted to be here for him. I contented myself with being one of the troops rather than one of the generals."

He says he owes his success to good teachers, his associates and a support system that includes his weekly volunteer stint at Good Shepherd Early Childhood Center.

"Being with the kids on Monday mornings puts my week in perspective."

During his half-hour sessions at the center, Craig uses stories, songs, games and a kinder, gentler approach to teach music appreciation to young children.

He enhances his material with special effects from a portable keyboard and other instruments.

Most of the children belong to employees; a few come to Good Shepherd for therapy. They all know and love him as "Mr. Jim."

"I love kids," Craig says. "They haven't been tainted as badly by some of the things that can beat adults down."

The class is his only opportunity to work with a group of young children.

"All my other teaching is one on one. You don't have the same kind of thing going on that you have in a group."

Craig has volunteered there since 1988, when he was invited to work with the kids. He does it "to give something back," because, he says, "we're pretty well blessed in this country.

"Once I started, I was hooked. I get more back than I give. I just think children are unique as individuals."

Center director Stephanie Rupert-Oblas says Craig brings out the life in everyone with his upbeat music. He brings change to the program, something children love, she says.

"He has even brought in a bass cello. He allows them to play and experiment.

"He's a very wonderful man, kind and gentle, a lot of fun."

Craig introduces various types of instruments to the children and once gave them boxes with rubber bands to encourage them to make their own instruments at home.

Through videos and tapes, the kids have learned about rap, opera, Dixieland, and symphony orchestras.

"When I walk in there, I'll feel what they're up for. I'll change the tack if they're not responding. If something doesn't work, I'll switch.

"With kids, I'm much more responsive to what they're doing. I'll lengthen or shorten a song or go off on different tangents."

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During one Monday session, Zachary Swanson, almost 2, shifts his weight from foot to foot, in rhythm with the music.

Zachary Cronin, 3, laughs with delight at some of the sound effects that accompany Craig's storytelling.

Craig begins a story about a magician who makes things disappear, and a giant named Abby YoYo.

When the giant heads for the village, ominous-sounding music lets the listeners know something bad is about to happen. The sound of heavy footsteps emanates from Craig's keyboard.

The story ends happily when the magician waves his wand and makes the sleeping giant disappear.

Preschooler Ashley Krah, 5, giggles at the ending.

The music teacher doesn't only tell stories; he gets involved with the kids, leading them today in a game of riding imaginary animals.

The session winds up with a goodbye song and hugs all around -- lots of them.

Craig, a Whitehall High School graduate whose last name is actually Iobst, uses Craig for professional reasons. "Once you get past Emmaus, they can't handle I-o-b-s-t," he offers by way of explanation.

Craig's wife, Pamela, and two sons, Kroeger, 23, and Kurt, 16, -- "my best compositions" --go by the name of Iobst.

They are renovating an old home in Whitehall that will eventually become their permanent residence.

In recent years, Craig began focusing more on teaching than performing.

Teaching brings its own rewards, he says, like enabling someone to appreciate things they haven't heard or felt or tried before.

He allows his students to "pick the appetizers and desserts" whether it's rock or rap.

"I give them the meat and potatoes. My function is to make sure they get as well rounded a musical education as they can.

"I don't just like to teach them to play other people's music, but to create and experiment and improve on their own."

Craig has given up his one-time dream of achieving musical stardom, but he'd still like to leave his mark in the music world.

"In the foreseeable future, I want to spread as much decent music education as I can and spread the joy of music creativity."